frozen octopus

At the ticket gates here, and probably everywhere, you insert a ticket or pay with a card or phone on the right-hand side. That means right-handed people who pay with their watch have to do a clunky reach over to pay with their wrist.

Us left-handers wear watches on the right wrist. That means when I walk through the ticket gate, I get a rare chance to feel ergonomically normal. It is quite wonderful.

By the way, I finally moved my IC (integrated circuit) card to my Apple Watch and it rules. Don't know my I didn't do it earlier. Took it out for a test run while going to rehearsal and it was really fun.

I also think the IC card readers interacted a little quicker with my watch than with the iPhone. Could be me just thinking that but I was a little surprised a few times how quickly it connected.

Other benefits

On the Pasmo phone app, you can only top it up in increments of ¥1000, ¥3000, and ¥5000. The watch app is any amount up to ¥20000. Not a huge deal but also cool to have the option.

On a trip to rehearsal and back, paying with my wrist is four times less I pull out the phone from the pocket. Also not a huge deal until you do the math.

4 x 365 = 1,460 times I won't pull out the phone.

That is just transit. Throw in transactions at stores as well.